Alex de Minaur picks which court he prefers out of Rod Laver Arena and Centre Court at Wimbledon
Alex de Minaur has steadily become a force at the Grand Slams, with the Australian now boasting quarter-final appearances at each of the sport’s four major tournaments.
After reaching his first Slam quarter-final at the 2020 US Open, de Minaur struggled to replicate that feat—until a stunning turnaround over the past year. The 26-year-old has now reached the last eight in four consecutive Majors, including a breakthrough performance at the 2025 Australian Open.
De Minaur’s growing presence on the big stage has naturally led to some time on tennis’ most iconic courts—and now, he’s weighing in on which ones he prefers.
Rod Laver Arena vs. Centre Court: De Minaur Picks a Favorite
While appearing at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown event in Nîmes, France, de Minaur was asked to choose between several legendary venues. When it came down to Rod Laver Arena and Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the Aussie didn’t hesitate too long.
“Woah, can I choose both?” he laughed, before deciding,
“Stick with my guns—Rod Laver.”
Here’s how he ranked the famous venues during the quick-fire round:
- Philippe Chatrier or Brisbane?
“Philippe Chatrier is bigger, but Brisbane is home—I’ll go with Brisbane.” - Brisbane or Wimbledon’s Centre Court?
“As much as I love Brisbane, I think Centre Court is very, very special.” - Wimbledon Centre Court or Rod Laver Arena?
“Rod Laver.” - Rod Laver Arena or Arthur Ashe Stadium?
“Rod Laver.”
Clearly, the home crowd and special energy of Rod Laver Arena hold a firm place in de Minaur’s heart.
Close Calls at the Grand Slams
Despite his consistent quarter-final finishes, de Minaur is still seeking his first Major semi-final appearance. He’s been competitive—particularly during a tight three-set loss to Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open—but hasn’t yet taken a set in any of his five Slam quarter-finals.
Grand Slam Quarter-Final Results:
| Tournament | Best Result | Most Recent | Win % | W/L Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | QF (2025) | QF (2025) | 69% | 18–8 |
| French Open | QF (2024) | QF (2024) | 47% | 7–8 |
| Wimbledon | QF (2024) | QF (2024)* | 67% | 10–5 |
| US Open | QF (2020, 2024) | QF (2024) | 69% | 18–8 |
*Withdrew before quarter-final match due to injury at 2024 Wimbledon.
Monte-Carlo Momentum: A New Clay Season Begins
Now ranked world No. 10, de Minaur shifts focus to the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where he enters the Masters 1000 tournament as the eighth seed. His 2024 performance saw him reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the principality, where he fell to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
Monte-Carlo Masters Highlights:
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | QF | Novak Djokovic | Loss: 5–7, 4–6 |
| 3R | Alexei Popyrin | Win: 6–3, 6–4 | |
| 2R | Tallon Griekspoor | Win: 2–6, 6–2, 6–3 | |
| 1R | Stan Wawrinka | Win: 6–3, 6–0 | |
| 2023 | 2R | Jan-Lennard Struff | Loss: 3–6, 2–6 |
| 2022 | 2R | Andrey Rublev | Loss: 6–2, 1–6, 4–6 |
| 2021 | 1R | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Loss: 4–6, 6–7 |
Can de Minaur build on his 2024 clay breakthrough and push deeper in Monte-Carlo this year? With the tournament kicking off on April 7, all eyes will be on the Aussie as he seeks to carry his hard court momentum onto the red dirt.
